I read a step-by-step account posted by someone who built a Pygmy Osprey from a kit. Upon checking the vessel for trueness, he said it was within a thousandth of an inch over the entire length.

How did he determine that????

I am beveling the long panels of a Merganser-to-be and expect to wire the pieces on Saturday. Part of the reason I went with a wood kayak is that my present kayak, which is plastic, has a slight curve to the left that drives me nuts. (Guess which way it tends to go.) I want to make sure I get everything properly aligned before I commit to the glueing, as a friend warned me that some people he knew built boats with similar problems.

Someone mentioned a laser level. A quick search on the net turned up a huge price range ($20 to $500). Are accurate ones available for rent? I don't want to buy one just for a one-time task. What alternatives for checking alignment are there, besides eyeballing the boat? (Yes, I am a total rookie at making anything.)